.. so, as I was saying, I needed something to cheer me up. This is because, 5 months earlier, I underwent surgery -- see "What not to bring to hospital" . The surgeon had said recovery would take around 6 weeks, but 5 months later I was still in agony and parts of me weren't functioning. So no wonder I needed cheering up.
Of course, I got lots of emotional support from family and friends everywhere. My cousin Gail in Toronto took a practical approach: "Laughter is the best medicine," she said, and proceeded to put together a parcel of 5 humorous books and mailed them to me:
Nora Ephron: Crazy Salad Plus Nine (Pocket Books, 1984)
Nora Ephron: I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts on Being A Woman (Vintage Books, 2008)
Tina Fey: Bossypants (Back Bay Books, 2012)
Joan Rivers: I Hate Everyone... Starting With Me (Berkley Books, 2012)
Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist (Anchor Canada ed., 2008)
At the time of writing this post, I've read most of the first Ephron; all of the second one; all of Bossypants; assorted chapters of the Joan Rivers one; and I've only peeked at the beginning of the Fundamentalist.
I started with Nora Ephron, because I was most familiar with her and trusted her to be good. After all, she wrote When Harry Met Sally, which I must have seen three times; and Sleepless in Seattle, ditto. She is astute and funny -- no one can contest that.
Nonetheless, Crazy Salad was a bit of a let down. It is somewhat dated, and very wordy. Ephron rambles on and on, eventually making her point. I could tell that writing of the rambling conversational kind came easily to her. And I suppose no one told her that sometimes less is more. But in 20 years or so, she learnt. Her later book, I Feel Bad etc., is better mainly because she makes her usually-excellent points more clearly and briefly. Not brief by any means, but briefer than 20 years earlier. Most of her essays, or articles, were written for magazines or other publications, and as such, perhaps she was encouraged to fill up a certain number of columns and/or inches. Or else no one dared criticize her :-)
As for subject matter -- some of the people she wrote about mean nothing to me (e.g. Barbara Howar), though they probably mean something to Americans of my generation. Some topics may have been very topical, relevant, at the forefront, even brave at the time; but by now they sound "been there, done that". However, other topics remain vital and important today too. A case in point is "Dealing with the, Uh, Problem", 28 [pocketbook] pages long, dated March 1973.
Uncharacteristically, after an intro of less than one page, Ephron states plainly: "This is an article about the feminine-hygiene spray, and how it was developed and sold. I will try to keep it witty and charming, but inevitably something is going to sneak in to remind you what this product is really about. This product is really about vaginal odor". (p. 98) Wow! Quite shocking for 1973.
Ephron continues to illustrate her point extensively: She quotes the super-vague, euphemistic language that promoters of this product used; she refers to research that demonstrates the product is unnecessary and unhealthy; she gives the history of the product; and quotes Ralph Nader's explanation of how the manufacturers and sellers "...exploit a person's sense of fear, a person's sense of being ugly, a person's sense of smelling badly" (p. 103) -- when, by "person", he basically means women.
Nor was Ralph Nader alone in this attitude: "'Honey,' said Bill Blass when asked to explain why his line of cosmetics included a so-called private deodorant, 'if there's a part of the human body to exploit you might as well get onto it.'" (p.117). Revlon, incidentally, has (or at least had, when Ephron wrote) several such products aimed at men, one of which carried the Bill Blass label.
Fast-forward to 40 years later. What has changed, except for the fact that more companies are making more money exploiting our fears? I don't know how many intimate sprays and liquid soaps are on the market these days; when I see this category at the supermarket or drugstore I just walk on. My doctors always told me that any gentle soap, such as baby soap, will do just fine.
So much for Nora Ephron's first book.
Next: Her last book, I Feel Bad About My Neck. I found it very worth-while. It's much shorter, so I suppose my post will be shorter, too :-)
E.L. Doctorow & Amos Oz : The story of a kid growing up
Shortly after posting the previous post -- the one saying how wonderful the book World's Fair is -- I suddenly realized which book it reminded me of. I'm quite sure this didn't occur to me at all while I was actually engrossed in Doctorow's novel. But once the thought popped up, it seemed to me obvious.
I'm referring to Amos Oz's A Tale of Love and Darkness.
Oz's book is an autobiography that reads much like a [very convincing] novel; Doctorow's book is a novel that reads much like an autobiography. Except that it can't be -- no child remembers such details, with such vividness, of his childhood. Then again, though the book may not be an autobiography, it does rely heavily on Doctorow's childhood memories, both conscious and subconscious ones, as is made plain in the fascinating New York Times essay Doctorow Revisits the 'World's Fair' of his Novel by Herbert Mitgang.
The large paperback copy of World's Fair I was reading is a second-hand book -- no idea where I got it -- that is littered with comments penciled in the margins. I'd say "adorned" rather than "littered" were the comments interesting or enlightening. But the reader took the persona's voice much too literally. Edgar-the-child waxes lyrical and philosophical about the sights and sounds around him, and describes what happens to him in language and in a depth that suit an older author looking back on his childhood, not a six-, seven- or eight-year old boy. I wonder whether the original owner of the book ever figured that out.
Some of Doctorow's memories and references mean nothing to me, because I have a very sketchy knowledge of New York City, and suspect I've never even been to the Bronx -- where so much of the story takes place. Not to mention that the numerous names the narrator, Edgar, mentions of radio programs, radio announcers and narrators, popular sports players and others are totally unfamiliar to me. Whereas when Amos Oz mentions people, places and characteristics of daily life of Israel in its early days, it evokes in me powerful memories and associations.
For example: Making a phone call was a Special Occasion. You (or more likely your parents) dressed up in your Sunday -- I mean Saturday -- best, and walked into the center of town (not on the weekend, of course!) to the only drugstore/pharmacy within miles; where you got permission to use the heavy, black Bakelite phone, and the owner flipped a special switch, and you called your uncle or cousin in a faraway city (like maybe 100 km away), who has been told in advance, by postcard, that you'd be phoning on such and such-a-day and time. Then there's the smell of olives, or pickles, bought at the local grocery, fished out of a large tin or barrel, and weighed on old fashioned, heavy metal scales.
Both Doctorow and Oz have an exuberant, hilarious way of describing the games and the mischief the boys (Edgar -- be it the real or the fictitious one -- and Amos) got up to. Both boys were avid readers of whatever they could lay their hands on. Both were highly aware of, and sensitive to, the ups and downs of the complex relationship between their parents -- far more aware than their parents realized. And both authors must have done some serious research to be able to write convincingly about their ancestors; though Oz goes into that far deeper than Doctorow (which is in keeping with the stated scope of each book, so that's fine.)
There are plenty of other points of resemblance, but as I said in my previous post -- this is not an academic paper. This is just me musing about how Book A suddenly reminded me of Book B.
I've been trying to anticipate your reactions:
Some may agree, to this or that extent.
Some may say, "Ma pit'om?!", i.e., "what are you talking about?!" "since when?" or even "rubbish!"
Others may say, "Well, I liked World's F, so I'll probably like A Tale of." And then -- hopefully -- they'll read it; and either agree or disagree.
But what about those who'll say, "Didn't care much for Amos Oz's story, so I won't bother reading Doctorow's." Or vice versa. Either of which would be a pity. But such is life. You can't get everyone to read the book which you thought of as a Life Changer. And no-one likes being told, "Oh, but you must read The Adventures of Jumping Jack of Java", or "The Secret to Superb Sex after Sixty"!"
So that's it for today.
I'm referring to Amos Oz's A Tale of Love and Darkness.
Oz's book is an autobiography that reads much like a [very convincing] novel; Doctorow's book is a novel that reads much like an autobiography. Except that it can't be -- no child remembers such details, with such vividness, of his childhood. Then again, though the book may not be an autobiography, it does rely heavily on Doctorow's childhood memories, both conscious and subconscious ones, as is made plain in the fascinating New York Times essay Doctorow Revisits the 'World's Fair' of his Novel by Herbert Mitgang.
The large paperback copy of World's Fair I was reading is a second-hand book -- no idea where I got it -- that is littered with comments penciled in the margins. I'd say "adorned" rather than "littered" were the comments interesting or enlightening. But the reader took the persona's voice much too literally. Edgar-the-child waxes lyrical and philosophical about the sights and sounds around him, and describes what happens to him in language and in a depth that suit an older author looking back on his childhood, not a six-, seven- or eight-year old boy. I wonder whether the original owner of the book ever figured that out.
Some of Doctorow's memories and references mean nothing to me, because I have a very sketchy knowledge of New York City, and suspect I've never even been to the Bronx -- where so much of the story takes place. Not to mention that the numerous names the narrator, Edgar, mentions of radio programs, radio announcers and narrators, popular sports players and others are totally unfamiliar to me. Whereas when Amos Oz mentions people, places and characteristics of daily life of Israel in its early days, it evokes in me powerful memories and associations.
For example: Making a phone call was a Special Occasion. You (or more likely your parents) dressed up in your Sunday -- I mean Saturday -- best, and walked into the center of town (not on the weekend, of course!) to the only drugstore/pharmacy within miles; where you got permission to use the heavy, black Bakelite phone, and the owner flipped a special switch, and you called your uncle or cousin in a faraway city (like maybe 100 km away), who has been told in advance, by postcard, that you'd be phoning on such and such-a-day and time. Then there's the smell of olives, or pickles, bought at the local grocery, fished out of a large tin or barrel, and weighed on old fashioned, heavy metal scales.
Both Doctorow and Oz have an exuberant, hilarious way of describing the games and the mischief the boys (Edgar -- be it the real or the fictitious one -- and Amos) got up to. Both boys were avid readers of whatever they could lay their hands on. Both were highly aware of, and sensitive to, the ups and downs of the complex relationship between their parents -- far more aware than their parents realized. And both authors must have done some serious research to be able to write convincingly about their ancestors; though Oz goes into that far deeper than Doctorow (which is in keeping with the stated scope of each book, so that's fine.)
There are plenty of other points of resemblance, but as I said in my previous post -- this is not an academic paper. This is just me musing about how Book A suddenly reminded me of Book B.
I've been trying to anticipate your reactions:
Some may agree, to this or that extent.
Some may say, "Ma pit'om?!", i.e., "what are you talking about?!" "since when?" or even "rubbish!"
Others may say, "Well, I liked World's F, so I'll probably like A Tale of." And then -- hopefully -- they'll read it; and either agree or disagree.
But what about those who'll say, "Didn't care much for Amos Oz's story, so I won't bother reading Doctorow's." Or vice versa. Either of which would be a pity. But such is life. You can't get everyone to read the book which you thought of as a Life Changer. And no-one likes being told, "Oh, but you must read The Adventures of Jumping Jack of Java", or "The Secret to Superb Sex after Sixty"!"
So that's it for today.
* * *
In by Nina Rimon Davis
World's Fair / E.L. Doctorow - Oh, my!
This is not a book review.
Over the years, since early 1996, I've more-or-less kept track of what I read, and have written over 200 book reviews for my own pleasure. Some are mere two-or-three- word impressions, such as "As suspense thrillers go, not bad" (Vertical Run, by Joseph Garber); "Eminently forgettable" (Clean Break, by Val McDermid); "Delightful and witty" (Mort, by Terry Pratchett); Some are puzzled ruminations about the storyline and characters, e.g. the 1235 words I wrote trying to figure out Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans.
Then comes a book like World's Fair and leaves me speechless.
It's simply a Good Book. A shining example of what literature is all about.
I have no desire to analyze it and define what makes it so good. That would be "work", like writing a term paper. It would require re-reading it not for the sake of enjoying it all over again, but for the sake of taking it apart, finding quotations to support or exemplify my "findings" and "conclusions". That's not fun.
It took me a while to read, switching from the large soft-cover to my Kindle and back. It's not an unputdownable novel. I put it down several times, whether because I reached a chapter which was Greek to me -- say all about baseball or football in America in the 1930s; or because I reached a sad chapter and wanted something to cheer me up. Of which I had plenty, since my cousin Gail in Canada, avowing that "Laughter is the best medicine", sent me half a dozen humorous books (Nora Ephron, Tina Fey, Joan Rivers, and more). Mind you, World's Fair has its fair share of humorous passages. One that comes to mind is chapter 18, which describes Edgar (the protagonist) and his friend Bertram's "pretend", swashbuckling games. And the beginning of chapter 27, the essay that Edgar wrote and sent to the World's Fair on the theme of the Typical American Boy -- funny, incredibly moving and thought-provoking.
So there. I've finished reading the novel, and I'm not going to review it.
But if you're ever in the mood to drop best-sellers, pulp fiction, and pretentious blah blah, and lose yourself in a Really Good Book, try World's Fair.
Over the years, since early 1996, I've more-or-less kept track of what I read, and have written over 200 book reviews for my own pleasure. Some are mere two-or-three- word impressions, such as "As suspense thrillers go, not bad" (Vertical Run, by Joseph Garber); "Eminently forgettable" (Clean Break, by Val McDermid); "Delightful and witty" (Mort, by Terry Pratchett); Some are puzzled ruminations about the storyline and characters, e.g. the 1235 words I wrote trying to figure out Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans.
Then comes a book like World's Fair and leaves me speechless.
It's simply a Good Book. A shining example of what literature is all about.
I have no desire to analyze it and define what makes it so good. That would be "work", like writing a term paper. It would require re-reading it not for the sake of enjoying it all over again, but for the sake of taking it apart, finding quotations to support or exemplify my "findings" and "conclusions". That's not fun.
It took me a while to read, switching from the large soft-cover to my Kindle and back. It's not an unputdownable novel. I put it down several times, whether because I reached a chapter which was Greek to me -- say all about baseball or football in America in the 1930s; or because I reached a sad chapter and wanted something to cheer me up. Of which I had plenty, since my cousin Gail in Canada, avowing that "Laughter is the best medicine", sent me half a dozen humorous books (Nora Ephron, Tina Fey, Joan Rivers, and more). Mind you, World's Fair has its fair share of humorous passages. One that comes to mind is chapter 18, which describes Edgar (the protagonist) and his friend Bertram's "pretend", swashbuckling games. And the beginning of chapter 27, the essay that Edgar wrote and sent to the World's Fair on the theme of the Typical American Boy -- funny, incredibly moving and thought-provoking.
So there. I've finished reading the novel, and I'm not going to review it.
But if you're ever in the mood to drop best-sellers, pulp fiction, and pretentious blah blah, and lose yourself in a Really Good Book, try World's Fair.
In by Nina Rimon Davis
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